Court Rules for Hospital in Medical Malpractice Case

In a medical malpractice case, the family of a deceased loved one often wants to hold as many parties liable as possible, and understandably so. In many of these cases, a beloved family member has unnecessarily died as a result of some negligent act or omission, and surviving family members are angry, confused, and want to find out who is responsible. Unfortunately, one of the lesser-known subtleties of medical malpractice cases lies in who, exactly, can be held responsible when a patient dies from a medical procedure. Often, doctors are not truly “employees” of a hospital, and thus a hospital or surgery center may not be responsible for negligence that occurs there.

Patient Dies During Cancer Surgery

In 2009, Mrs. Annie Godwin went to the Tampa General Hospital emergency room suffering from a severe stomachache, nausea, and decreased appetite. She was admitted to the hospital, diagnosed with colon cancer, and scheduled for surgery to remove the tumor. Sadly, the surgery turned tragic when Mrs. Godwin sustained a tear to the wall of her inferior vena cava, which caused excessive bleeding that led to hear death. Mrs. Godwin’s husband, Arthur Lee Godwin, sued the University of South Florida, both operating physicians, and Tampa General Hospital, the primary teaching hospital for USF’s college of Medicine.

Hospital Not Liable

In his suit, Godwin alleged that the operating physicians were agents of Tampa General Hospital (TGH), thus making them liable for their actions. He also claimed that TGH had a nondelegable duty to provide Mrs. Godwin with nonnegligent surgery and failed to do so. TGH claimed that it was not liable, as the physicians responsible for Mrs. Godwin’s care were independent contractors employed by the University of South Florida (USF). The circuit court and the appeals court both agreed with TGH, ruling that the physicians were not TGH employees or agents, but were employees of USF, and therefore TGH had no liability.

The court dismissed the suit against Tampa General Hospital (TGH) based on several forms Mrs. Godwin had signed. The day before her surgery, Mrs. Godwin met with one of the operating physicians, to discuss the procedure and sign a Consent & Disclosure for Medical and/or Surgical Procedures, which included language stating that the physicians, surgeons and assistants were not hospital employees. She had also signed a Special Notice form upon being admitted to the ER stating that the treatment she would receive would be provided by physicians who are employees and agents of the USF (University of South Florida), as well as a Certification and Authorization form explicitly stating that emergency physicians along with other medical professionals practicing in the emergency and trauma centers are not agents or employees of TGH. While this ruling does not mean that Mr. Godwin cannot recover damages from USF or the physicians, if a court should rule in his favor, it does mean that he cannot recover anything on behalf of his wife’s estate from Tampa General Hospital. These seemingly minor details in contracts and authorization forms can actually make a great difference to the viability of claims, so it is incredibly important to make sure you read and fully understand all medical documentation before signing.

Have You or a Loved One Been Harmed by a Hospital or Doctor’s Negligence?

If your loved one has been injured or killed after a medical procedure and you believe a physician or hospital is at fault, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We know that no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one, but you should not have to bear the burden of financial hardship. The experienced medical malpractice lawyer, John Piccin at Piccin & Glynn has handled medical malpractice cases for decades, and he can help you through this difficult process. Call John at 800-969-5446 or 352-351-5446 for a free consultation to discuss your case today.

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John H. Piccin

John H. Piccin was born in Willimantic, Connecticut. He attended the University of Vienna in Vienna, Austria and graduated from Villanova University with honors. He then received a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Michigan Law School.

Katherine Glynn

Over the past twenty one years, I have litigated criminal and civil matters in private and government practice, worked closely with the Marion County Judiciary for the last eight years, and worked in private business as a founding board member of a community bank for ten years.

Disclaimer: This web site is designed to present general information about Piccin & Glynn, and should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Contact us by phone or through this website so we can provide you with more about our qualifications and experience.

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320 N.W. 3rd Avenue, P.O. Box 159
Ocala, Florida 34475

Disclaimer: This web site is designed to present general information about Piccin & Glynn, and should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Contact us by phone or through this website so we can provide you with more about our qualifications and experience.